By Sarah Hofmann | Contributing Writer During summer 2016, Redlands native Caden Henderson found himself at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. It turned out to be a “minor stomach issue,” Henderson, now 19, said Friday, Nov. 22. But the stay left a lasting impression. Henderson had a teddy bear with him at the hospital, he said, which became a source of comfort for him and an ice breaker for hospital staff. Caden Henderson stands beside a teddy bear at Star Tulip Stuffies in Redlands on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. The shop serves as a drop-off location for his annual Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where Henderson was once a patient. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Caden Henderson is seen Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, with donation boxes at Star Tulip Stuffies in Redlands. The store is a drop-off site for his annual Teddy Bear Drive that benefits Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where Henderson was once a patient. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Caden Henderson puts a teddy bear in a donation box at Star Tulip Stuffies in Redlands on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. The shop is one of the drop-off locations for his annual Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Caden Henderson stands Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, with donation boxes at Star Tulip Stuffies in Redlands. The shop is a drop-off location for his annual Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where Henderson was once a patient. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 4Caden Henderson stands beside a teddy bear at Star Tulip Stuffies in Redlands on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. The shop serves as a drop-off location for his annual Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, where Henderson was once a patient. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) Expand “The nurses were all so nice to me,” he said, and would ask him about the bear. After his hospital stay, Henderson wanted a way to give back. He started organizing a Teddy Bear Drive — with help from his parents — to bring that same comfort to other patients in the children’s hospital. This year’s drive is now accepting donations at participating businesses across the Inland Empire. To date, the drive, now in its eighth year, has collected more than 1,300 bears and $20,000 for patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The first year, Henderson raised money for a Wii gaming console for patients. Because of safety concerns during the coronavirus pandemic, the drive paused the bear donations, and instead raised money to buy iPads. As for the teddy bears, “every year, the total’s only gone up,” Henderson said. This year, he’s hoping to reach 500. Henderson graduated from Redlands High School last year, and now attends the University of Redlands. He’s pursuing sports broadcasting and journalism, and already covers and announces for regional teams. He started interviewing athletes on his YouTube channel, CadenCenter, while still in elementary school. But Henderson still finds time for the Teddy Bear Drive, and says the results motivate him to continue. Each year, he and his family are sent pictures of patients with donated bears, and he said the images “remind us that this is why we do it.” The community has continued its involvement, too. Henderson said the first drive included about three participating locations. This year, there are 11. “I think everyone just has fun with it,” he said. The drive will continue accepting donations of new teddy bears — just bears, not other animals — until Sunday, Dec. 15. Henderson said the hospital prefers bears that are still in their original packaging, as they’re safer to give to patients. Related Articles Local News | Thanksgiving morning tradition brings runners out in Redlands Local News | Mission Inn warns public against Festival of Lights ticketing scam Local News | Need for food assistance grows in Inland Empire, agencies report Local News | Riverside’s Alternative Gift Fair will raise funds for nonprofit organizations Local News | Trailblazing wheelchair racer, actor, inspirational speaker Jim Knaub dies at 68 DROP-OFF LOCATIONS Paulson Orthodontics 219 Cajon St., Redlands (Also accepts mailed donations) Star Tulip Stuffies 1410 Industrial Park Ave., Redlands Cyclebar 455 W Stuart Ave. B100, Redlands 7210 Day Creek Blvd., Suite 117, Rancho Cucamonga Amazing Lash Studio 540 W. Stuart Ave., Suite 120B, Redlands 1902 N. Campus Ave., Suite G, Upland 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu 892 Oak Valley Parkway, #C, Beaumont La Loma Federal Credit Union 26151 Mayberry St., Loma Linda 11498 Pierce St., Suite D, Riverside 11161 Anderson St., Loma Linda Inland Dental Center Highland 6982 Boulder Ave., Highland